Barrel-contractor



(No Model.)

P. LITTLE.

BARREL CONTRACTOR.

No. 473,764. Patented Apr. 26, 1892.

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PIERCY LITTLE, OF MOUNT VERNON, NEW YORK.

BARREL-CONTRACTOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 473,764, dated April 26, 1892.

Application filed May 13, 1891. Serial No. 392,584- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern..-

Be it known that 1, Primer LITTLE, of Mount Vernon, in the county of \Vestchester and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Barrel-Contractors; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to an improvement in barrel-contractors.

The object is to provide a simple device for drawing the ends of the staves of a barrel together in order to receive the hoop.

It consists, essentially, in a wire band or equivalent device, in connection with a guardplate, through the ends of which the Wire passes, and a lever to which the ends of the wire are connected at different points.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a View of the device complete. Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view through the handle, and Fig. 3 is an enlarged view in perspective of the guard-plate.

A represents a band of wire or other material for encircling the barrel, and B is a hand-lever to which the ends of the wire are pivotally connected at different points, the end a. being connected near the inner end of the lever and the end I) a considerable distance therefrom.

Attention may be called to this peculiarity that the ends of the wire are preferably bent in opposite directions, one entering the lever from one side and the other from the other, after which the ends are upset or else have nuts screwed upon them. When thus constructed for the purpose of throwing the plane of the Wire out of the plane of the inner nut, a raised portion 0 is formed on the lever. When the device is constructed in this manner, the lever fulcrums on itself and draws the wire together from both directions, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1, thereby lessening or decreasing the liability of twisting the staves by pulling from one direction alone. When the end of the barrel is fully contracted, the lever is swung around against the barrel, where it remains fast, due to the tension ofthe parts and also due to the fact that the outer pivot is thrown inside of the inner pivot. IVhile these parts may be used plate is slightly curved to conform to the shape of a barrel, and at its ends it is. pro vided with the outwardly-extending ears d d. One of these ears has a slot e and the other a hole 6, through which the ends of the Wire pass, and ear d has a notch f, through which the end of the hand-lever is adapted to be swung and held when the parts are locked, the ear holding the lever against a tendency to swing upward at its free end. This guardplate is generally provided on its back with a rib g, and the inner end of the lever has a groove h, adapted to receive said rib, and on it the lever is adapted to bear and rock in the contraction of the barrel. In this way the end is easily and quickly contracted, and when the hoop is placed on the contractor is removed from the barrel.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as pew, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, i

1. A barrel-contractor consisting of a band for encircling the barrel, a guard plate through the ends of which the band passes, and a lever to which the ends of the band are pivotally connected, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, with a band and a guard-plate through which the ends of the band pass loosely, of a lever to which the ends of the band are pivotally connected and a rib on the guard-plate, upon which the inner end of the lever bears, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination, with a band and a guard-plate having ears on its ends, through which the ends of the band pass, one of said ears having a notch formed therein, and a rib on the back of the guard-plate, of a lever to which the ends of the band are pivotally connected, the inner end of the lever having a groove formed therein to receive the rib on the plate, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

PIERCY LITTLE.

W'itnesses:

OHAs. H. BROWN, RICHARD B. OAssEBEER. 

